DZ Bank, Germany’s second-largest lender by assets, is rolling out crypto trading to millions of retail customers through the country’s network of cooperative banks. The launch marks one of the largest traditional banking entries into digital asset services in Europe.
What DZ Bank Is Launching
DZ Bank received MiCAR authorization from BaFin at the end of December 2025 for a crypto trading and custody service called meinKrypto. The service is integrated directly into the VR Banking App, the mobile banking platform used across Germany’s cooperative banking network. For related coverage, see LBank Launches Elite Lead Trader Challenge with Enhanced Rewards for Top Trading Performance.
The initial lineup includes four tradable assets: bitcoin, ether, litecoin and cardano. Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody handles asset custody, while EUWAX AG provides trade execution. For related coverage, see OKX launches OKX AI marketplace for onchain AI agents.
DZ Bank designed the product as an execution-only offer rather than a personalized investment recommendation service. Customers place trades themselves through the app without receiving advisory guidance from the bank. For related coverage, see Coinbase Launches 24/7 Gold and Silver Futures for U.S. Traders.
Why the German Cooperative Bank Channel Matters
The cooperative banking network, known as the Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken, comprises hundreds of independent local banks across Germany. By building the service on DZ Bank’s centralized platform, individual cooperative banks can offer crypto trading to their customers by notifying BaFin rather than each obtaining a separate full MiCAR license.
According to secondary reporting, German cooperative banks have already begun rolling out crypto trading through the DZ Bank platform, with hundreds expected to adopt it over time. The exact customer reach remains unconfirmed, though the cooperative network collectively serves millions of retail banking clients.
A CoinDesk report from January 2026 noted that more than 71% of German cooperative banks surveyed in September 2025 were interested in offering cryptocurrency services to clients. That level of demand from member institutions suggests the rollout could expand well beyond early adopters.
The distribution model stands apart from how most crypto exchanges reach users. Rather than competing for attention with standalone apps, DZ Bank’s meinKrypto sits inside a banking app that customers already use for everyday transactions, as other institutions have also explored expanding crypto asset support through existing financial platforms.
What the Move Signals for Crypto in Traditional Finance
DZ Bank’s launch follows a broader pattern of established financial institutions building regulated crypto infrastructure. The move operates under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation framework, which has given banks a clearer path to offer digital asset services without the licensing ambiguity that slowed earlier attempts.
The timing arrives as other major players have pushed into similar territory. CME Group launched 24/7 crypto futures trading, signaling that traditional market infrastructure providers see sustained institutional and retail demand for round-the-clock digital asset access.
The rollout did not coincide with broad risk-on sentiment in crypto markets. Bitcoin traded at $62,423 with a 1.06% gain over 24 hours, while the Fear & Greed Index sat at 22, labeled Extreme Fear.
That contrast underscores a structural point: bank-led crypto adoption is driven by long-term product strategy and regulatory readiness, not short-term market sentiment. DZ Bank’s MiCAR authorization was secured months before the current market conditions.
For retail customers who have avoided crypto exchanges due to unfamiliarity or distrust, access through a known banking app with regulated custody lowers the entry barrier. Whether that translates into meaningful trading volume will depend on how many cooperative banks activate the service and how their customers respond to execution-only crypto in a cautious market.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
